Growth continues for Black Country brewer

Black Country Ales was started in 1999 by Angus McMeeking, a former director of pubs for M&B and Highgate Brewery by initially buying The Old Bull's Head in Redhall Road, Lower Gornal.

The company, which has its offices in Tansey Green Road, Pensnett, this week began work on converting a former HSBC bank branch in Bearwood Road, Bearwood, for its next real ale pub.

Director Mr McMeeking said that the old banking hall would have a bar offering a minimum of 10 different beers including three of BCA's own.

It is inviting people to suggest names for what will become the 32nd pub in its chain.

Mr McMeeking, who is originally from Nottinghamshire, said that the "slow but sure" success of the business was being built on growing enthusiasm for real ale in the Black Country and wider West Midlands.

"Lots of small breweries are springing up here and there is a great choice to be had.

"Our pubs try to make sure they get the beers in from the new breweries and keep the range they offer as interesting as they can for our customers," he said.

"When we started the demand for real ale was mainly from middle-aged blokes, but we are now seeing a dramatic increase in younger drinkers of real ale. More women are using our pubs as well," he added.

BCA, which has built up a multi-million annual turnover, brews its own beers at the back of its first pub, The Old Bull's Head.

An old brewery, dating back to 1834, has been restored and brought back into service."

While major rival Marston's, which has its headquarters in Wolverhampton, is building its success on opening pubs offering meals, most of the BCA pubs don't offer food.

"Our pubs tend to be places where people go just for the real ale and the conversation. Our feeling is that an awful lot of pubs are more restaurants with a bar than proper pubs these days.

"There are times when people just want to go out for a drink and offering food can change the feel of a pub," explained Mr McMeeking.

At some of the chain's pubs people are invited to bring in their own lunches and are offered plates and knives and forks if they need them.

The success of the Black Country Ales formula is proved in the number of awards its pubs are winning.

The Lych Gate Tavern in Queen Square, Wolverhampton, has just won the city's Campaign for Real Ale branch's pub of the year title. The Black Country Arms in Walsall is Walsall Camra's champion and The Hollybush in Stourport has triumphed for the Kidderminster Camra branch.

The company's showpiece pub, The Wellington in Bennett's Hill, Birmingham, is also a former pub of the year for the city branch.

"We are still looking for more sites for further pubs," said Mr McMeeking.

"We are hoping to soon open another pub in Halesowen where we currently only have The Whitley in Stourbridge Road.